AREA AND COOPERATIVE APPROACHES TO PROVIDING SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL SERVICES.

RHODES, ALVIN E.

THE BASIC PURPOSE OF SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL SERVICES IS TO ENHANCE THE TEACHING-LEARNING PROCESS. GENERAL SERVICE AREAS WHICH ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS SHOULD HAVE ARE--A QUALIFIED INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF, COMPETENT ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL, WELL-CONSTRUCTED BUILDINGS, GOOD COURSES OF STUDY AND CURRICULUM MATERIAL, GUIDANCE SERVICES, HEALTH SUPERVISION, AND SPECIAL SERVICES FOR HANDICAPPED AND ATYPICAL CHILDREN. THE ONE FACTOR WHICH HAS IMPEDED THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUPPLEMENTAL SERVICES HAS BEEN POPULATION CONCENTRATION. SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITH SPARSE POPULATION HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE EFFECTIVE PROGRAMS OF SUPPLEMENTAL SERVICES. COROLLARY PROBLEMS INCLUDE INADEQUATE FINANCIAL SUPPORT, INEFFICIENT USE OF PRESENT FUNDS, LACK OF PROPER STAFFING, INEFFICIENT USE OF PERSONNEL, POOR PROGRAM SCOPE AND BALANCE, WEAK PROGRAM CONTINUITY, AND INSISTENCE UPON MAINTAINING LOCAL CONTROL. THE AUTHOR CONCLUDES THAT INTERDISTRICT ORGANIZATION AND COOPERATION WOULD SOLVE THE AFOREMENTIONED PROBLEMS AND ENCOURAGE GOOD DISTRICT ORGANIZATION. THIS PAPER WAS PREPARED FOR PRESENTATION AT THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON PROBLEMS OF RURAL YOUTH IN A CHANGING ENVIRONMENT (SEPTEMBER 1963). (JS)